Summer solstice celebrated at Solar Living Institute

Ritually smudged, you enter the Circle of Grandmother's, the Hop's Teepee at the Solar Living Institute, to invoke the four directions, the earth and the sky, and celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

Ginny Reynolds welcomes the group seated on the newly-minted clay benches-in-the-round; she is accompanied by soft rhythmic drumming. "The purpose of this circle, the grandmother circle, is to honor our relationship with all beings, our interconnectedness. We are not the only ones doing this right now; there are circles of 18 other grandmothers -- in Wales, North Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, Santa Barbara -- and we have mutually agreed to celebrate at this time."

It's a bucolic setting. The open teepee, once bordered by hops, has been replaced with protectively encircling olive trees, reaching to the sky, open at the top, wisteria twining throughout. The wind rustles through the branches and the sun spackles the skittering leaves.

"We are now going to call in the four directions. We are going to honor our reverence for the earth, for our ancestors. I call in the south, the underworld, fresh starts, patience, the ability to wait below; fire, when to control it and when to let it rip. I call in the west; bring the blessings to all the children, the animals, to all of us. I call in the north, its wisdom and strength, the mountains, to a storm on the horizon. I call in the east, spirit and winged ones, let us know and trust you. Let us remember how the winds can change our lives; let us be like the winds and keep our breath strong and our words clear.

"I call in the spirit of the earth; everything we eat, every piece of clothing, our shelter; all that we experience in life comes from our mother earth. Let us learn to live in harmony so we are not depleting, taking more than we can give back. We call in our sky brothers. Let us know the way of the sun and the power of the moon, the light of the stars and remember we are but a mere speck in the universe."

"We are losing touch, becoming out of touch with what it means to have real relationships with the earth, with each other, with ourselves. We need to bring back the simple ways of connecting through games, dance, song.? We need to recognize the changes coming; instead of living in fear we need to develop strength to respond, not react in ignorance to climate change and disasters that are yet to come. Learn to respond, not react. We have the power to bring harmony; that is the message from the grandmothers."

John Schaeffer, founder and general manager of retail and distributions of Real Goods, is part of the circle. (He says he is working his way down the corporate ladder.) "This is our 36th solstice event, twice a year, summer and winter, for 18 years. We had 20 people here at solar noon; the oculus from the rainbow projecting from the ceiling onto the floor marks the summer solstice in the south to the winter solstice in the north. It shows the path of the sun through the sky. We had the first solstice in 1994, in the winter, when we were in the process of building this place. We used to do the ceremonies in the oasis out front where you can see the sun come over Duncan Peak as it sets. We have a solar calendar showing where the sun sets and rises every year; there are 26 holes drilled in concrete with a brass gnomen, the metal finger on the dial; the interns move it every week so we can see where the sun rises and sets."

Reynolds encourages the attendees to move outside to the eating area, the dock adjacent to the pond, to enjoy the potluck, the drummers, singers and storytellers.

The Clay Hawkins Band takes to the small stage as folks bring out their food to share. The Raging Grannies follow with their inimitable, homegrown, politically inspired satire sung in lilting harmony.

Paige Brewer is here for the summer as part of the Worldwide Organization for Organic Farming Program working on Reynolds' farm. She hails from Louisville, Kentucky. "It's one of the first events I have attended in Mendocino County. It's an interesting way to get a feel for how people in Northern California celebrate. It's a lot different from the Midwest."

Meredyth Reinhard, longtime Redwood Valley resident, says the solstice reminds her of how nature provides us with such glorious abundance; how full everything is at this time of the year.

Mira Sharan lives on Kauai and says this being the longest day of the year is the time for her to connect with the change of the everyday moment. "It's an obvious earth balancing point. The thing I like to do the most on the solstice is see the sun come up and sing healing songs with the choir. I like to be as present as I can be with this day."

Seth Delaney lives at what he likes to call Geezerville, the senior apartments on North Pine Street. "This is the turning point from the lengthening of days to the beginning of the shortening of days. It's the beginning of the real warmth of summer, concerts in the park, outdoor parties; I love the outdoor parties."